United nears pact with ramp staff

WASHINGTON--After more than 10 days of bargaining, the National Mediation Board (NMB) reported "progress toward settlement" of contract negotiations between Elk Grove Township-based UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and the International Assn. of Machinists, representing 15,000 passenger service, ramp and other employees.

"The NMB requested that we do not publicly discuss the particulars of the recent round of bargaining," said lead negotiator Randy Canale on the union's Web site. "But hopefully, we are poised to conclude these negotiations during the next set of meetings," scheduled for the week of June 17.